Nov. 4, 2019 (Chicago) – Federal and state agencies announced late Friday that invasive Asian Carp DNA has been found in Bubbly Creek in Chicago, which is about 5 miles from Lake Michigan. This spike in eDNA so close to Lake Michigan is a cause for alarm. Agencies have commenced increased sampling and monitoring in the area.
In reaction to this alarming news, Alliance for the Great Lakes President & CEO Joel Brammeier released the following statement:
“This discovery is yet another sign that we are teetering on the edge of a nightmare scenario. The time for delay is over. We need Governor Pritzker to show leadership and take swift action to sign the letter of agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers that would allow them to move forward with fortifying Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Joliet, a critical choke-point for invasive Asian Carp about 50 miles downstream of Chicago. It’s our best chance to stop these aggressive fish from creeping closer to the Great Lakes and crashing our regional economy.”
###
Media Contact: Jennifer Caddick, jcaddick@greatlakes.org, (312) 445-9760